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Tech Employees Benefit from State Charitable Contributions Program

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Every parent knows how frustrating the potty training process can be. And no one understands this better than Melissa Arceneaux, whose daughter, Ariel, is autistic.

“The autism made it even more challenging to teach Ariel to use the toilet, which was really hard for us,” said Arceneaux, who is the financial manager in Procurement and Business Services. “So, we reached out to an organization called Autism Speaks, which referred us to the Marcus Institute, where we found a day-long potty training program.” 

After attending the event, Arceneaux was able to potty train Ariel, who was 5 at the time. 

“We’d been trying daily for several years to make this happen, and all along there was a resource out there for us that we didn’t know about,” she said. “I’m so thankful for Autism Speaks for referring our family to something that has changed our lives for the better.” 

Autism Speaks is one of the many local and national nonprofits that benefit from the State Charitable Contributions Program, which Georgia Tech faculty and staff members contribute to each year. 

Arceneaux has not only supported the organization through the annual campaign, but she’s also volunteered as a campaign ambassador for the past four years. 

“There are always so many organizations that struggle to raise the funds to provide services to families in need,” she said. “Georgia Tech does a wonderful job of providing for its employees, so I feel like we should pay it forward to the charities in need. By skipping your morning coffee or a lunch once a week and donating money to the campaign, you could change a person’s life.” 

This year’s campaign begins and ends earlier than in the past, running from Sept. 1 to Nov. 15. The campus goal is to have 1,500 members of the community donate and to raise $330,000.

Faculty and staff have several options for contributing. In addition to payroll deduction and check donations, there are credit/debit card payment and WebCheck options. 

However, giving online through TechWorks at www.techworks.gatech.edu is the preferred method because it is confidential, secure, and simple to use.

“In 2014, Georgia Tech was awarded the Governor’s Cup for the seventh year in a row for having the highest contribution per employee or retiree to the State Charitable Contributions Program of the state institutions in its division,” said LaJauna Ellis, this year’s Charitable Campaign chair. “I hope that with the help of the Tech community we can make it eight years in a row in 2015.” 

For more information, visit www.charitable.gatech.edu, or email questions to charitable@gatech.edu

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  • Created By:Kristen Bailey
  • Created:09/02/2014
  • Modified By:Fletcher Moore
  • Modified:10/07/2016

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